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Duke  University  Libraries 

Communication  f 
Conf  Pam  #319 

Ililllllillil 


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MESSAGE  OF  THE  illESIDENT. 


Richmond,  Va.,  March  10,  1863. 
To  the  House  of  Representatives  : 

I  herewith  transmit  a  communication  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Navy,  in  further  response  to  your  resolution  of  the  5th  ult.,  in  regard 
to  the  number  and  amount  of  claims  for  vessels  seized  for  public  use, 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


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COMMUNICATION  FROM  SECRETARY  OF  ]SAVY. 


Confederate  States  of  America,  ^ 

Navy  Dtpa'tmcnt,       ^ 
Richmond,  March  9th,  1863.  ) 
The  President: 

Sir:  Referring  to  my  letter  of  the  13th  ultimo,  in  response  to 
the  following  resolution  adopted  by  the  House  of  Representatives, 
**Rcsolv€d,  That  the  President  be  requested  to  communicate  to  the 
House  the  number  and  amount  of  claims  for  vessels  seized  for  public 
use—  filed  in  the  War  and  Navy  Departments,  and  in  the  Auditor  of 
the  Treasury  Department  the  Lames  of  the  claimants,  the  time  when 
Bevcrally  filed,  and  the  estimated  sum  required  for  their  payment," 
I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  claim  of  Mr.  Daniel  J.  Turner  for 
a  steam  dredge  machine,  sunk  in  Dismal  Swamp  Canal,  by  order  of 
Commander  Thomas  T,  Hunter,  Confederate  States  Navy,  and  to  en- 
close herewith  a  copy  of  the  appraisement  and  Commander  Hunter's 
certificate. 

With  much  respect. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

S.  R.  MALLORY, 
Secretary  of  the  Navy. 


[Copy.] 

The  undersigned,  disinterested  citizens  and  property  owners  of  the 
county  of  Camden,  North  Carolina,  having  been  called  upon  to  ad- 
judge the  value  of  one  steam  dredge  machine,  belonging  to  Daniel  J. 
Turner,  and  which  was  seized  and  sunk  in  the  new  cut  of  the  Dismal 
Swamp  Canal  by  order  of  Capt.  Thomas  Hunter,  Confederate  States 
Navy,  do,  from  their  knowledge  of  said  steam  dredge  machine,  ad- 
judge its  cash  value  at  seven  thousand  dollars. 

Given  under  our  hands,  in  the  county  of  Camden,  this  10th  day  of 
April,  1862,  in  duplicate. 

(Signed,)  WM.  R.  ABBOTT. 

(Signed,)  J*jHN  W.  HOLSTEAD 

(Signed,)  •   W.  C.  GORDON. 


State  of  North  Carolina,  County  of  Camden,  April  10,  1862 : 

This  day  personally  appeared  before  me,  W.  W.  Sawyer,  a  justice 
of  the  peace  in  and  for  the  County  and  State  aforesaid,  William  R. 
Abbott,  John  W.  Ilolstead  and  Willis  C.  Gordon,  whose  names  are 
signed  to  the  above  paper,  and  made  oath  that  the  value  assessed  by 
them  on  the  steam  dredge  machine  of  Daniel  J.  Turner,  sunk  in  the 
new  cut  of  the  Dismal  Swamp  Canal,  is  a  fair  and  equitable  cash  val- 
uation thereof,  and  I  certify,  that  the  paid  William  R.  Abbott,  John 
W.  Holstead  and  Willis  C.  Gordon,  are  respectable  and  responsible 
citizens  of  this  county. 

(Signed,)  W.  W.  SAWYER,  /.  P. 


C.  S.  Steamer  "Gaines,"  off  Fort  Morgan,  ) 
Mobile,  Ala.,  March  26,  1862.  ] 

Mr.  Daniel  J.  Turner  : 

Sir:  At  your  request  I  cheerfully  certify  to  my  having  seized,  on 
the  9th  of  February  last,  in  the  name  of  the  Confederate  States,  your 
steam  dredging  machine  and  sunk  it  in  the  Cross  Cut  Canal,  near  its 
junction  with  the  Pankatank  river,  immediately  after  my  passing  that 
place  with  the  three  Confederate  steamers  bound  to  Norfolk.  The 
value  of  the  machine  can  now  readily  be  determined,  as  she  was  only 
slightly  scuttled.  It  was  essential  to  the  public  interest  at  the 
moment. 

Very  respectfully, 
(Signed,)         THOS.  T.  TURNER,  Com'dr  C.  S.  N., 
And  lately  Sr.  Off.  of  that  dttachment  of  the  N.  7.  Fleet. 


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